BKLYN Yard

This was the best place ever when it did exist.

I came here for PARKED!, I won’t comment on the event itself since that always varies but let’s focus on the venue. Almost no seating, dusty as all hell… so prepare for dirty feet. Slightly obnoxious crowd (this may have to do with the event) It overlooks the Gowanus canal which on this particular day was a nice thing… wasn’t to hot and there are some large trees here… but the Gowanus canal is the equivalent of a fat man with stinky feet so watch out. The venue is an odd shape as well.
Meh. On a cute street… that counts for something right?

The
Landlord
Decided
To kill it so
Who knows where Mean Red will find a new spot.

My fiancé, myself and our dog went to go try out this «Parked» event on Monday. Very dissapointing. WAAAY overcrowded. we waited a half and hour to get in, no place to Sit at all– and when my fiancé tried to save two seats we did end up finding– the girl next to us decided she wanted it and sat in my seat-​even though she was told it ‘s being saved for me. All in all, (and this may just be this one event but doubt it) it seemed like a bunch of «my shit don’t stink» yuppie stuck-up’s. I Love and live in BK, hate that crowd. And there was not enough choices to eat. the ONE taco stand was AN HOUR to wait in line. we split a waffle (since they were already out of the pulled pork).

I came to BKLYN Yard for the first time for the return of Parked, the food truck brigade supershow. As a venue, BKLYN Yard was actually quite surprising. It peers over into the Gowanus Canal, which is rumored via urban legend to have served as a dumping ground for the Mafia. You know guns, body parts and now food trucks. This is just how they get down in Gowanus. The surprising part of the Yard is that although it can get cramped around the lines of people begging to be served from each food truck, there is ample space in the shade to relax. There are benches, tables, stoops, stumps and openness near the Canal where you can definitely get some space and quiet to eat or relax.
I got there at noon and hit the trucks that I wanted to quickly, before the droves of people intercepted my yearnings. The Yard setup for Parked is smart with the carts and trucks taking up the outside so you can wind through them to get to the tented bar. There was a lot of space under the bar tent as well, but better than that there were actually a couple waiters and waitresses out there getting drinks to those who found spots to sit and weren’t going to move.
BKLYN Yard is not a done-​up venue. It is a gravely yard where someone may have thrown a keg party back in the day. However, if you know Gowanus, the Yard is a perfect fit and serves as a unique outdoor venue with a lot of different options. For Parked, it was certainly done correctly in all aspects except that I think the bathrooms were lacking for a food and drink event where you want people to stay and eat and drink and eat and drink.

One of the oddest venues I’ve been to, but I had a good time there. Situated right next to the Gowanus Canal, the Yard has been hosting a number of interesting musical events. I stopped by to see Sabbath In The Park (a Black Sabbath cover band event, obviously) but missed the band. Still, there were some guys cooking up legit tacos (on the flyer they were listed as «Evil Taco Truck» but there was no truck nor any evil). It was a little odd — the place was filled with Brooklyn hipsters, hip-​hop heads, and skaters. An unusual collection of people, to say the least.
They have a good sound system, and space to dance, so hopefully I’ll be able to get back there for another event. And hopefully those taco guys will be there — those were the best tacos I’ve had in New York, and every time I go (I live in Texas, taco central) I search for good Mexican food, usually fruitlessly.

Friends and I headed to the Yard to spend a lazy summer afternoon — live reggae plus cold booze plus delicious tacos equals awesome. If it weren’t for the cover, I’d give it five stars. I see from some other posts that on Sundays it’s $ 8 or $ 10, but it was $ 15 when we went on a Saturday recently — most likely because there was live music?
From what I hear they’ve upgraded the Yard a bunch since it first opened. The lot is now dotted with lawn chairs, sturdy wooden picnic tables and two bars serving ice cold beer and sangria. The drink prices are really reasonable, and the Indian food cart and taco stand will hit the spot with some great authentic flavors if you’re hungry. There’s plenty of shade so you don’t have to be out in the sun if you don’t want to. When we were there the kids were having fun dancing, their parents were catching up, tons of other people were there strictly for the music — and it all worked somehow. Definitely a great time!

Went yesterday for the «Sunday Best» party. For a backyard-​starved Hoosier living in Manhattan, nothing could beat sitting on a cement block next to the Gowanus canal, and it’s certainly a better fate than had undoubtedly befallen some – sitting in a cement block in the Gowanus Canal.
After being in the heat for the Unilocal’s a Beach Party on Saturday and struggling home with a flat tire on my bike, the last thing I wanted to do on Sunday was schlep out to Brooklyn and sit outside in the heat. I was wrong.
By the time I got there at around six it wasn’t that hot, but there was also ample shade, there were lots of places (okay rocks and cement blocks) to sit, and some good looking huaraches, some tasty polish sausages and suerkrauts to eat, and big cans of Sapporo, along with PBR (bleh), mixed drinks and Sangria. A perfect place to hang with friends on an early Summer evening.

The Sunday Best party here has now become my favorite party during the summer in the city.
We’ll see how long this place lasts, given potential zoning and development changes in Gowanus and the canal. Regardless, this is as close as you are going to get to the soon defunct Bar25 in Berlin, except instead of minimal techno the music tends to be on the deeper house + detroit style tip. Of course, it also can’t stay open for days in a row, but the location is perfect for anyone looking for a great hangout on a Sunday afternoon where you can enjoy a great vibe, either dancing, or chilling out however you please.
The décor speaks to the beauty of vintage urban grit that has recently been celebrated with construction of the Highline park on Manhattan’s West Side, and used to reign over many parts of the city, yet declined since mayor’s Giuliani and Bloomberg’s policies led to dramatic changes to the city’s landscape, culture and demographics over the past 15 years. Sitting aside the still toxic Gowanus canal, littered with weeds, gravel, a tiny bridge, graffiti laced factories, and a view of downtown BK the space provides a unique experience that no other venue I can think of does in New York.
Like the trend of less pretentious nightlife across the city, comes no dress code, inexpensive entry fee, drinks and reasonably priced food. Young children can be seen running around as folks either dance wherever they please, or engage in conversation away from the speakers.
I’ve never been here for other parties, so I cannot speak to other events, but I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon/​evening, to dance, or just chill.

dappled summer sun
we’re just kickin’ it low-​key
i love living here.

What a great summer dance party! If you RSVP it’s $ 8 before 4pm or $ 10 after. There’s an amazing line up for the summer parties (last week was my first time here and I saw a 17 year old house music virtuoso from Detroit. he had to get permission from his dad to play the party).
I heard this spot has been around for 3 years but it has none of the hype or pretention of spots like Warm Up at PS1 (even though those parties are still great.) Here it’s way less crowded, the vibe is super positive and friendly, there are homemade tacos available and you can bring your own drinks (don’t get an open container ticket trying to mix them outside the venue though! DAMN YOU NYC LIQUOR LAWS)
So take the F to Carrol St… and enjoy SUMMER IN BROOKLYN!

I discovered BKLYN Yard last weekend with a friend who dragged me through the rain, promising that Flashing Lights would not only pull me out of my bad mood, but also turn me into a «Yard-​aholic.» Truth be told, I was skeptical. But then the clouds parted, the DJ started, and I had a $ 3 beer in hand. It was the defining moment :)
I think what sets this place a part is how non-​pretentious and un-​douche-​y it is. Everyone is always super relaxed and happy to be there. Not to mention some quality dancing, which I always appreciate. Not to be weird and cult-​ish, but if you don’t know the Yard, you don’t know Brooklyn.

The Yard is one of my favorite places in Brooklyn. On Sundays, I think it’s my favorite place in the world.
The crowd is laid-​back, friendly and super-​cute, the DJs are always amazing, and there’s cheap food and drinks. Who could ask for anything more?
I’ve had several moments of pure joy in the middle of the dance floor as the sun sets over the Gowanus Canal.

so. yeah. They say the Gowanus is nothing but poo-​lution… and the «yard» is just gravel… and the warehouses aren’t pretty.
«WAAAHH!!!»
…I live in Jersey City and I’ve already trekked out to Bklyn 3x’s this summer for (music) events here. It’s cool to dance, drink, and eat outdoors while getting your feet dirty and making new friends.
I love the vibe at this place! I always go with a few friends and end up making a few new ones. ;) …just cut loose and have fun.

Back for another year!!!
Can’t fucking wait!

First of all, any review of this place claiming that it is full of hipsters should be ignored. Maybe it was just the day I went, but I’d say it is more overrun with toddlers and their parents. Actually, if you are looking to get some dance on, and don’t have a baby with you, this dance floor might not be the place for you.
The atmosphere is not unpleasant, but is no better than anything you could get in a nice public park for free. In general, for someone with a baby this is a four star place, but if you are child free and really want to dance 2 stars is generous.

A fun little place to chill out, but completely inundated with hipsters.
Long lines for food and drinks; limited beverage selection. But nice to be by the water (wasn’t smelly when I went, well, not the canal anyways) in the middle of Brooklyn.

I saw Afrika Bambaataa there this past Sunday, for the Yard’s «Sunday Best» party and I will most definitely go back.
When we first arrived (around 5), it was very low key. Not many people there, and those that were there pretty much stuck to their group of friends.
Then it poured. I mean, a 20 minute downpour, where most everyone huddled under the (few) awnings that surrounded the place.
The sun started poking out, and the party was transformed. Great music, a great cross-​section of Brooklynites, and a very friendly vibe where most everyone was dancing.
A great way to spend the day outside next to one of the most polluted waterways in the US!!!

Yeah, the yard is great. If I describe it here, it may not sound great. The Gowanus Canal can wreak a bit. Your bathroom options are spare — just a few port-​a-​potties/​Johnny-​on-​the-​spots/​call-​a-​heads (god, I love the wealth of creative names for those things!) and no nearby businesses to speak of when you gotta go. And it’s not as if the grass is well manicured.
But when you get there (ride your bike!) it’s kind of like, hey, we all made it. We’re outdoors, within a largely secluded warehouse/​industrial zone. There’s still romance in a canal (hmm) — gowanus as it may be.
And people hang out on the bridge overlooking the yard and watch and there’s something fun about that, too.
Oh, and so, I saw some music here and some community organization tabling function party. The music was more fun.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I was hired to perform for an event here
I love the alternative regular party scene in Brooklyn. I have the memory of a goldfish, but at first it was this other really cool warehouse party that some other outfit threw every month, and now I dub this the new cool laid back outdoor party site.
Everyone was so hip and cool and it was in Brooklyn, where I never go because I’m a square suburbanite/​Manhattanite but everyone was hipster and friendly and beautiful. I went for a Jewish young people’s type mix party release type thing and there were people of all races and colors, and it was by the canal, that you can’t swim in, but still, there were kids, and incredibly cool bands playing and booze and food and it was outdoors, and this is not the best writing, but I had such a good wholesome alternative underground pickup place social gathering family friendly, gay, straight, artsy or square friendly place that I look forward to coming here again to see a band or to another hip party.
It kinda makes me want to move to Brooklyn, it was really close to the train.